10 Minute Drill: Dems Fail Charlie Kirk Test; Gavin Newsom Plays Make Believe
Podcast: 10 Minute Drill
Host: Matt Whitlock
Date: September 23, 2025
Episode Theme:
A brisk, pointed roundup of major U.S. political news, with Matt Whitlock analyzing Democratic reactions to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Gavin Newsom’s posturing in California, and fresh drama from Kamala Harris’s new book.
Main Themes
- Controversial responses from Democrats regarding the death of Charlie Kirk, highlighting a perceived inability to condemn political violence unequivocally.
- Critique of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s legislative theatrics related to ICE agents.
- Insights and gossipy details from Kamala Harris's new "burn book"-style memoir, sparking further divisions within the Democratic Party.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Charlie Kirk Memorial and Political Fallout
- Massive tribute: Over 100,000 people attended Charlie Kirk’s memorial in Arizona; prominent figures like JD Vance and former President Trump spoke, focusing on Kirk’s faith and perseverance.
- JD Vance (00:47):
“He loved God, and because he loved God, he wanted to understand God's creation and the men and women made in his image.”
- Donald Trump (01:04, via co-host):
“The assassin failed in his quest because Charlie's message has not been silenced. It now is bigger and better and stronger than ever before.”
- Erica Kirk, widow (01:09):
“That man, that young man, I forgive him.”
- JD Vance (00:47):
- Democratic response: Host Matt Whitlock skewers major Democrats for allegedly justifying Kirk’s assassination, failing what he dubs the "Charlie Kirk test"—the basic human decency of condemning political violence without caveats.
- AOC (01:38):
“His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated, and sought to disenfranchise millions of, of Americans.”
- Ilhan Omar (03:06):
“...Not wanting to honor any legacy this man has left behind. That should be in the dustbin and we should hopefully move on and forget the hate that he spewed every single day.”
- Jasmine Crockett (03:18):
“If there was any way that I was going to honor somebody who decided that they were just going to negatively talk about me and proclaim that I was somehow involved in the great white replacement, yeah, I'm not honoring that kind of stuff.”
- AOC (01:38):
- Host’s argument (04:02):
“Which is to say, if someone talks negatively about me, they deserve to be murdered. Which is a shocking standard that we're seeing from more and more Democrats.”
- Moderator’s rule-of-thumb (04:06):
“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. It should be especially true when someone is murdered.”
2. Political Math & Energy Costs in New Jersey
- Mikie Sherrill: Criticized for deflecting blame for increased energy bills, despite supporting the policies that caused them.
- Mikie Sherrill (04:48):
“Everybody at the table is at fault…That is why I’m freezing rate hikes on the ratepayer.”
- Mikie Sherrill (04:48):
- Host’s analysis (05:06):
“Democrats spent the last four years doing everything in their power to drive up the cost of energy and in turn, everyone’s utility bills…As soon as bills started going up, tried to blame everybody else in the world for those rising costs.”
3. Government Shutdown Showdown
- Shutdown politics: The House passed a "clean CR" (Continuing Resolution), keeping funding steady as broader debates persist, but Democrats are framing the impending government shutdown as President Trump’s fault, despite backing the clean CR.
- Speaker Mike Johnson (07:24, via co-host):
“Chuck Schumer saw that he returned a counteroffer that is filled with partisan wish list and poison pills and demands.”
- Politico summary (07:32):
“On one side is the minority party…using what little leverage it has…for priorities it can't enact otherwise. On the other side is the majority insisting a short term funding punt is no place for negotiation.”
- Speaker Mike Johnson (07:24, via co-host):
- Host’s characterization: Democrats are "the New Orleans Saints of political parties" (08:48, via Harry Entin) – alluding to poor performance and blaming tactics.
4. Gavin Newsom’s “Make Believe” Lawfare
- Unenforceable legislation: Newsom’s bill forcing ICE agents to unmask is criticized as hostile, dangerous, and legally meaningless.
- Gavin Newsom (09:21, via co-host):
“I’ll be signing a bill, the first in the nation, saying enough, ICE unmask. What are you afraid of?”
- Host (09:28):
“Assaults on ICE agents are up 1,000%, largely due to the insane rhetoric of lawmakers like Gavin Newsom...ICE agents would want to cover up their faces…putting their families at risk…”
- U.S. Attorney Bill Asale (10:13, via co-host):
“Is this even enforceable? No. And I want to be very clear about that.”
- Host’s summary (10:18):
“The state of California has no jurisdiction over the federal government…this bill is meaningless. It is pretend because Gavin Newsom and the California legislature don't have the ability to control what federal agents do while they're enforcing federal law.”
- Gavin Newsom (09:21, via co-host):
- Memorable analogy (10:25): Compares Newsom’s bill-signing to a child playing Donkey Kong—both are fantasy.
5. Kamala Harris Burn Book Revelations
- Book details: Host hypes new Harris memoir as a "burn book" causing a "second civil war" within the Democratic Party, featuring drama and some unflattering anecdotes about her campaign.
- Vice Presidential selection:
“Her first choice was her close friend Pete Buttigieg. But she decided that it would be too big a risk for a black woman to run with a gay man… she picked Tim Waltz.”
- Campaign cupcakes (approx. 11:40):
“Harris social secretary peeled icing that read ‘Madam President’ off the cupcakes…sent them out to campaign staffers along with wine.”
- Podcast gaffe: Harris struggled in a “softball” interview when asked about her sleep routine, leading to staff frustration and inside jokes.
- Quote (approx. 12:45):
“Brian, I said through gritted teeth, that was a rhetorical question.”
- Quote (approx. 12:45):
- Host’s commentary:
“What I love the most about this book is it's part Burn Book, it’s part Kamala posting her Ls…If you believed that Kamala Harris could have helped herself by doing things like going on Joe Rogan or going in some tougher interview venues, this should correct that thought immediately.”
- Vice Presidential selection:
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Erica Kirk’s forgiveness at the memorial (01:09):
“That man, that young man, I forgive him.”
- Rainn Wilson’s podcast on Kirk’s death (02:49, via co-host):
“You won’t find me shedding any tears…There was a little bit of a kind of a good riddance thing. And it’s like, guys, no.”
- Host’s summation of Democratic responses (04:06):
“When someone is murdered, if your first reaction is to criticize the victim…you are justifying political violence.”
- Sarcastic jab at Gavin Newsom (10:25):
“Here is my son playing make believe as Donkey Kong. But just as Gavin Newsom's all powerful bill to stop ice isn't real, my son isn't actually Donkey Kong.”
- Kamala Harris campaign chaos (11:40):
“Of all the political jobs…write books about, I wanna hear from the poor staffer that had to peel the icing that said ‘Madam President’ off the cupcakes…”
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Charlie Kirk Memorial: 00:36 – 03:03
- Democratic Responses to Assassination: 01:38 – 04:48
- Energy Bills in New Jersey: 04:48 – 05:56
- Government Shutdown Politics: 06:53 – 08:55
- Gavin Newsom’s ICE Bill: 08:55 – 10:25
- Kamala Harris Book Excerpts: 10:25 – 12:40
Tone & Style
- Conversational, acerbically humorous, and unapologetically partisan. Whitlock and his co-host blend direct quotes with snappy analysis, framing events as ongoing political theater and emphasizing perceived Democratic missteps.
For Listeners Who Missed the Episode
This episode provides a whirlwind conservative-leaning critique of several headline stories, focusing on Democrats’ handling of political violence, Gavin Newsom’s performative lawmaking, and juicy insider stories from Kamala Harris’s memoir. The show’s quick pace, direct attribution, and use of recent quotes make it informative and pointed, perfect for keeping up with the spin and counterspin of U.S. politics.